Paper-feeding machine



T. E. BREEN.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

AffPLlcATloN FILED OCT. 6, 1919.

w/mfss YL//S ,4 TTORNEYS T. E. BREEN.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 6, 1919- Patented June 28, 1921.

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I l E;

T. E. BREEN.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE. APPLICATION man ocT. 6. 1919.

B SHEETS-SHEET 4- Patented June 28, 192] ini.

I H l mf, umg/VHS T. E. BREEN. PAPER FEEDlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6, 1919.

1,382,951, Patented June 28, 1921.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

7U l ATTORNEYS T. E. BREEN.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 0CT.6,1919 I 1,882,955 1 Patented June 28, 1921'.

a SHEETS-SHEET a.

WIM/ESS x Tl' uvz/Enron ATTORNEYS T. E. BREEN. PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLaCATloN men oc. e, 1919.

1,382,95 1 Patented June 28,1921.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

maw.. l5/w INVENTOR WITNESS #ff WER/vers T. E. BREEN.

PAPER FEEDING MACHlNE.

APPucATloN man ocT.s,1s19.

l ,382,95 1 Patented June 28, 1921.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

INVENTOR v W/TNESS I 7172' Arron/VHS YORK.

To c lZZ 'wwmi't' may concern.

Be it known that I, THoMAs E. BRnnN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, inthe county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain nevv and useful improvements .in PaperFeeding Machines, of which the following is a full and clear specication.

The present invention relates to an im` proved separator for paper feeding machines to taketlie place of the sheet buckling devices or other forms of preliminary separators that commonly operate upon the opposite 'corners of the rear edge of a pile of sheets toI separate the top sheet from the pile `preparatory. to Winding t e sheets for the action of the feedingoll devices.

In pile feeders as now commonly used it is customary to empio these preliminary separating devices at tie tivo rear corners of the pile of sheets, such a duplication o the separators being considered necessary, particularly when operating upon large sheets yol" paper. have found that an e'l' fective preliminary, separation ot' the top sheet of a pile can be accomplished with a single one of my improved separating mecha e nisnis arranged to operate. in the middle 'of the rear edge of the pile. The risrlt is due to the peculiar eil'ectivenessoiI the improved separating mechanism. i

The improved sheet/ Yseparator comprises a pile holdingr foot adapted-to periodically move into and ont of engagement with the rear edge of a pile engaging foot normally engaging the top of the pile a .short distance in front ot' tlic main foot, a simple combing finger mov-` able into and ont ol engagement with thel top ol the pile and rubbing tliie pile inwardly l'i'oni flic rear edge toward the auxiliary holdingr t'oot to comb or slightly disturb the lop sheet o'l' the pile, and a suction lifting ini-iiilwi' arranged to engage the top sheet bclii'ein the main and auxiliary holding' l'eet immediately alter the action of the combinglr linger and raise the slightly disturbed top sheet away 'fi-oni the pile sutli ciciilly lo permit the introduction o'lair blasts lariioali the top sheet.

rl'lie action oi" the simple combing linger operating loi'wardly l'i'oiii the irai' eilgre has the elli-.ct oi' slightly shitting the toprslicct Specification of Letters Patent.

'suitable delivery devices.

pile of sheets, an auxiliary` 'dreier orric.;

fHoMAs n. misma, or PHILADELPIA, .rniviiisYL/VANIA,

nomina contraire', or rnannmvnn, New Yorin, a

PAPER-FEEDIG IIIACHNE.

Patented June 28,' 3192i. Application led October 6, 191,9. Serial No. 328,794.

forwardl in the center and dravvingin-4 Wardl i t e rear corners of the top sheet so that tie entire rear portion of the top sli'eet is displaced slightly ily yields to the lifting action of the suction member. At the completion of the preliminary separation, the top a film of air, is iced from the pile by any In order that kthe invention may be 'fully understood it will first be described with. reference to the accompanying drawings and sheet resting upon upon the pile andfre'adafterward pointed ont more particularly in the annexed claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved sheet separating mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a. detail plan View of the same illustrating the main supporttor the mechanism and indicating the dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the kimproved mechanism.

to better illustrate tlieineclianism. f

Fig. 5 is a vertical, central, longitudinal,

sectional view of the mechanism showing 'y particularly the suction lifting device and the comber and auxiliar)v holding' down foot. Fig. 6 is a similar view illustrating the operation of the inain holding down'foot and omitting other parte of the mechanism for the saire ot' clcarness. Figs. 7, 8. Si and l0 are detail, outline views ot' the essential parts or' the mechanisin showing their successive positions in the operation of separating a sheet from the pile. Figs. 1l and 12 are detail vieivs of opposite sides of the suction, sheet lifting member looking respectively in the directions oi' the arrows ll and 12m? Fig. i4.

Figs. 13 and i4 arevertical. sectional views ol the same taken respectively upon the section lines lil-ifi oi? nig. lll and lll-14 ot Fig. lli. y Fig. l5 is a vertical, longitudinal, sec tional view or the main holdin@r down foot taken on the line ifi-#l5 of view i?.

liig. lli is a detail rear view of thesame looking' 'in the direction ol arrow ,i6 of Fig. l5.

operating parts bv 1 75" Fig. l is a plan vieiv of tlieinain operative- It wil heav 3 hearingI colla-ij: 15, which is detachably Fig. v1'7'is/a front view of themain hold' ing` down foot. f

igs. 18 and 19 are detail views illustrating the locking device for securing together 5 the two arts of the supporting frame.

l),be understood that the improved y sheet separator formingl the subject of the present a plication is designed to be used as parte "a'n'fautomatic. paper feeding machine," in which a pile of sheetsI is supported upon an automatically adjustable table in properposition for the operation of the V dey'ices which act upon f fbr separating. and feeding-oit the. succes;- 'si-vesheets to any form oi machine designed to operate thereon.

In this well-known type of automatic paplepfeeding machine it iscommon to vprovide-.an adjustable frame overhanging the pile of sheets to support the separators in roperrelation to the' pile. Such overhangmg frame usually includes a transverse bar such as indicated at X in the 'accompanying drawings, which bar can be adjusted vertically,-forwardly and backwardly with rela tion tothe pile. This bar is the'only part of the well-knownv mechanism which it is thought neceary to illustrate in the drawins of the present application. y

' or f convenience of manufacture and A integral with a Iln'acliet arm 2v having an angularly disposed end, 'in which'is formed a semi-circular recess 4 itting* a supporting bar such as X. Pivoted to the bracket' at 5 is an angular hasp1 member G having a semi- Acircularrecess 7 tting over the upperpor- "tion of bar X and resting snugly against a vertical face of the braclret2 in which poe. sition it is securely fastened hy means of a` setl bolt 8 passing freely through an in member d andthreaded into the bracket. By this means the bracketed head lead-- justably and securely mounted upon the sup*- porting frame above a 'pile oi sheets. Operating in the threaded head 1 is a vertical adjusting screw 10 by which the improved feeding mechanism is supported. yIl'ie-.lofver end of lthe adjusting screw .10 is freely journaled -n ,a` `flanged Imounted ina'yoke Adrame in vthe manner presently toy berdescribe'd. The lower end 'ofith'e adjusting screwY l() is formed with a flanged bearing headv supporting the colthe top of the pilel manipulation,-thel improved sheet'separating opening Lessen lar l5 upon the screw, the screw being free to rotate in the collar. y lThe head 1 hasI formed with it the oppo sitely extending yoke arms 20 and`2l,formed in their ends with vertical sockets in which are secured by means of set screws 22, the downwardly pro'ecting guide rodsv23.

The central yolre frame 25 is formed in its opposite ends with vertical guide Asockets 26 fitting and sliding upon guide rods 23 and a central hollow head 27, formed with a cylindrical pocket in which rests the heal# ing collar l1 5 and the head 11 on lower end of adjusting screw 10. The bearing collar 15 is formed with an annular groove 15a, 80- and the head 27 is transversely perforated in the plane of said annular groove, to receive the locking pins 3() mounted in parallel relation upon a supporting and manipulating' head 31 as shown particularly in Figs. 18 and 19 of the drawings. When the parts are` assembled as shown, the coupled locking pins 31 are forced into the pertorations in the head 27 and caused to engage the annular greove 15 of collar 15 upon opposite Sides So Yas to lock the lcollar 15 in the head 27 and thereby support the central yoke frame 25 andl the .mechanism hereinafter referred to tronithe screw l0. The-guide rods 23 retain the supporting trames in their proper angular relation and the mechanism is adjusted vertically bythe operating of thescrew 10. By means of the locking pins 3()"the central vyoke frame 25 and all the mechanism carried thereby can be quickly to@ detached fronfiithe upper supporting yoke 2O. The intermediate yoke frame 25 is formed with downwardly extending-legs 25, which are securely bolted ,to the sides of the main horizontalrame or casting 40. This mainca'sting 'is anopen trame of approxi-- mately rectangular shape having side and end membersand suitable bracketed arms andbearings to accommodate the operative parte of the mechanism. These parts will 110 e hereinafter referredto in connection with f the'm'echanism 'supported'` by them.

45 is the'main cam shaft of the sheet separating mechanism,l This shaft 45, carrying the various cams for the operative parts-presently to be explained, is suitably i journaied at its ends in hearings 46 of the Asides of ltrame 40. One end of shaft 45 carries a beveled gear 47, which meshes withl and is driven by a similar 'gear LLScarried by shaft section 49 journaled in bracket bearing 50. and designed to be operated through the usual sectional shafting and flexible couplings well-lrnown in this art.

5.5 v's the main holding down vfoot pivot- 1225 ally mounted at its rear end upon holt 56 in the lower end of a depending lever 57 secured at its upper end upoh a rock shaft 58, journaled in the rearwardly presented bracket arms 59 crimine-40. vThe we i :toot member has a' pile engaging toe 555 at its forward end, which may be provided with an air blast channel indicated at 55b to receive blasts of air through the air pipe 55c suitably connected with an air blower. The

provision of an air blast in the holding down foot is not essential 'toits proper operation since the required air blasts for assisting in the separation of the top sheet of a -pile can be supplied by the ordinary air blast nozzles. l

The rocl shaft 58 carries a depending rock arm 60 pivoted at its lower end to a horizontal pitznan 61, which is formed at its orwardend with a guide yoke 62, `ernbracing the cam shaft 45 and supported thereon by the removable plate cap 63. The guide yolre 62 carries a friction roller 64 operating in peripheral engagement witha cam 65 secured to cam shaft 45. A' spring 66 connects the pitman 61 vwith `a stationary point of the lframe 40 to retain the roller 64 yieldingly in engagement with the controlling cam 65 to periodically impart a back and forth motion to the main holding down yfoot 55.

The foot 55 has pivoted to it at 55d the lower end of link pivoted to a rock arm 71, carried b a short rock shaft 72, journaled in the racket arm 73 of the machine frame, This roclrshart 72 carries a downwardly presented rock arm 74 in the lower end ot which is journaled a roller 75 operating' in peripheral engagement with a cam 76 mounted upon `the cam shaft 45. The spring 77 connects the rock shaft 72 with a stationary point of the machine frame to yieldingly liold'the roller 75 in engagement with its cam 76, to cause the main holding down foot 45 to be periodically moved down wardly into engagement with the rear edge of a pile o'i" sheets. foot 55 is -providefl with the customary adjustable tension spring device acting between the foot 55 and the supporting pin 56 to :resist iniproviding the proper tension upon the foot when it' is throwninto engagement with the pile of sheets.`

H0 is the 'auxiliary pile engaging andl holding; foot mounted on the rear end of an arm 81, journaled upon pin 82 carried in the lower end of the bracket arm 83 of the ma.- chine frame 40. The -adjustable tension springr 84 ysurrounds theA pin 92 and engages the arm 81 to press the foot normally against the top ci the pile of sheets. Arm 81 has formed integral with it an upwardly lpresented arm 81 carrying an adjustable screw tappet 81 adapted to be periodically engaged by a lng 85 formed upon a lever 85, journaled upon the pin 82 between bracket @il and arm 8l and carrying; at its upper end un antidriction roiler 9b, which is intermitgagged by cam 97 upon cam shaft 45 c the auxiliary toot 80 away from the pile of sheets during the time thatthe par?4 tially separated sheet is being fed-oli' from the pile, 88 is` a spring acting. upon lever 85.

is the combing finger mounted on the fA y free end of an arm 91, journaled upon pin 70 92, carried in the lower end of lever 93, which iS journaled at its upper `end upon a shaft -94 fixed in bracket bearing 95,' of the machine frame 40. A set screw 96 holds the shaft 94 against movement. A tension spring 97 arranged between the arm 91 andV pin 92 imparts a normal spring pressure to the combing member 90. The'lever 93 has journaled upon it, between `its ends an anti-` friction roller 98, which operates in periph* eral engagement with a cam 99 carried by` cam shaft 45. Journaled upon the' stationary shaft 94 near the left hand bracket 95 of Figs. 3 and 4 is a rearwardly projecting lever 100, carrying an anti-friction roller 101,'which operates upon the cam 102 on shaft 45,. The free end of this lever 100 has pivoted to it at 103 a link 104, which is piv-` oted at its lower end 105 tothe arm 91 of the comber. By the operation of cams 99 and 102 upon levers 93 and 100, the combing member 90 is given a rectilineal movement, that-is forwardly in engagement with the top. of the pile, then upwardly away from the pile, then rearwardly in raised po- 95 sition, and finally into engagement with the pile for its forward active strokes. l

-The machine frame 40 carries upon its -rear end a socketed bracket 110, in which is adjustably mounted a rod 111 secured by a set screw 112. Upon the forward end of rod 111, is adjustably secured a guiding head 115, secured to the rod by means of set screw 114. iis head 115 is formed with a vertical guide opening 118 (see Fig. 4), in 105' the rear end 124 ot' a lover 125 freely jour- 110 naled upon the lixed shaft section 94 and carrying between its ends an anti-friction roller 126, which operates in peripheral en gagement with the cam 127 uponfthe cam shaft 4,5. c c

The bar 120 reciprocates vertically in the supporting and guiding head 115, and ca'r ries upon its lower end the suction sheet lifting device illustrated in detail inliigs. 11'` to 140i the drawings. This suction device 120 comprises a body member 130 socketed to receive the lower reduced end of bar 120 and securefl thereto by .a set screw. 131. Side plates 132 are secured to the member 130 and a suction head 135 is pivoted at its rear cor- 125 ners 136 in the lower ends of the side plates 132. The suction head rests between the side plates 132 and screws or pins 137 pro jncting from the braclretsll of head 135 pass freely'througlrthe curved slots 139 in 130 i side plates 132 to permit the suction head to ing one or more suction openings orvslots through which it communicates with' the short elbow interiori suction cavity 135b from which a ipe140 leads for connection -with the iexible air tube 141, which'isfdesigned to communicate with a suction pump of any suitable construction. `While the ysiiction head 135 may have its sheet engaging face .formed in any approved way, l have found very satisfactory results with vthe use of the removable plates referred to. I have designed a series of these face plates for the' suction head, which differ from each other them', thus providing means for readily adapting the mechanism to the separation of various grades of paper sheets.

The operation of the improved machinel will, be clear from the following briedemember 90 will move downwardly into ene.. gagement with the top sheet and While enf scription.l When the mechanism has been `adjusted tothe proper position above the rear edge of a pileof sheets midway between the sides, the machine is set into operation and assuming the parte start in the position shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings with the. main holding foot 55 and the suction head 135, andthe combing` foot 9() elevated from' 4the pile, and the auxiliary holding foot 80 in engagement with tliepile, the combing gagging said sheet will move forwardly toward the auxiliaryholding foot 8),thereby l rubbing or combing the top of the pile Afrom cated.

the rear edge toward the front and* causing a disturbance of the top sheet of the pile, particularly in theniiddle zone of the sheet, but extending in some degree throi'ighout the entire rear edge ot the' top sheet. ln the middle zone'ot` the slieetf,iits rear edge is raised and flexed somewhat 'in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 5.1- [at the same time said rear edge is advanced somewhat 'es indin As' the combing:4 vmciriibcr l90 com pletes its forward combing stroke, the siiction head 135 is lowered into engagement with the rear edge ofthe slightly disturbed top sheet and presses iii down on tothe pile as shown in Fig. 8, a buckled 4poitioioof the top sheet being' thus separated from the pile; The suction head' taking hold cil the'rear edge ofthe top sheet then starts to move iip4 vv'aidly away from the pile 4andai; the same 'time the auxiliary 'holding foot 80 and the combing member 90 moveupwardly away from the pile whiletlie main holding,E oot55 moveswinwardly and dowmvardlli' these changes iii position being indicated in Fig,

in the area of the suction openings through taclied from il E 3855,95 1.

9. immediately after the main holding toot 55 comes into rm engagement with the rear edge of the pile beneath the raised rear edge out' the top sheet, the combing member `9() moves rearwardly in raised position ready to againdesceiid upon the pile for its succeed ing stroke. The auxiliary holdingl foot still remains in' holding position as the suction sheet. This position of the mechanism is shown inFig. 10. As vtlieslieet is releasedt to operate upon it. y Referring to Fig. 4, it

will be understoodfrom the foregoingV description thattlie separator is mounted cen-v trally of the rear edge of the pile, an aux# iliary holding foot being operated to.A engage l,head 135isabout to drop the rear edgeof the the pile in advance of said rear edge (sce Fig. 7 after which the combing member 90 drops to the pilenear the rear 'edge thereof and moves toward the auxiliary holding foot to displace the'rear edge ofthe top sheet 'with respect to the pile as shovtn in Figs. 1"

and 5..4 Immediately, the suction head drops to the pile as shown in Fig. Band by depressing the rear edgeoftlie top sheet, form's a loop or bulge therein between the suction head yand thecoinbing member. The rear edge of the top sheet haviiig been disturbed with respect to the pile, is ifted by the i`ipward movement of thesiiction head and a vblast ot air is projected lunder said top sheet are raised and the top sheet Withdrawn from lthe pile by the feeding oil' mechanism. 'During; this operation, the main holding foot vclamps down. the rear edge of the pile'vvliile the combing member in its elevated position,

returns to its initial position'in readinessto begin a new cycle.

f it is desired to remove the supporting mechanism from the machine for repairor extensive adjustment, it will be understood that this can he accomplished by disconnectingrthe 'driving shaft 4&9 and removing; the locking pins ,30, which will permit the main frame 4.0 and the central Jframe Q5 to be de the other parts of the supporting frame.

l claim:

A1. ln a machine of the character de scribed, a holding' foot movable into and out of engagement withl a pile of sheets at a disi tance .from fthe rear edge of said pile, u Sheet engaging instrumentality movable into en` t, and means 'for' raising said ice 

